Husband - Major Injury...Wife - Once Again, Heartless
Not exactly what happened (but, it could have!)...
I experienced a major injury today, and once again my wife was heartless. I'll try to tell you about it but it will be difficult because, everytime my thumb hits the spacebar, riveting pain shoots through my body.
I was installing a stereo in my daughter's car. My motto: “Why pay the store? I can do it!” Family members are skeptical of these projects, but I plodded on with the task for hours, entering the house at intervals to give updates. My wife had a friend over and, as usual, they were “yacking”. I came in to borrow a steak knife; she asked why, and I said it was needed for the project. The serrated blade would be great for cutting through plastic. She looked skeptical, and said, “Don't cut yourself”. Who was she kidding? I knew what I was doing by employing this kitchen tool.
Well, I was sawing through the face-plate, to make it fit, when my thumb got in the way. And I was reminded that steak knives are designed to slice through meat. It was just a little cut, but it sure did hurt. And it sure did bleed. I entered the house with blood dripping down my hand, and this is where my wife of 25 years proved, once again, to be heartless.
I showed her my hand. She just said, “I told you”.
And, admittedly, I do generally injure myself with every attempt at handiwork. There was the time I was changing the belt in the vaccum, and got my toe stuck. And I've learned it is best to unplug electrical appliances before inserting a screwdriver. But today I did not need a sermon, but some compassion. I remember when we first married, sympathy was easy to elicit. But now? No way.
“Don't you drip blood on my clean floor.”
“Honey, where's a band-aid?”
I don't think we've got any. It'll probably quit bleeding in a minute.”
“Where's the antibiotic cream?”
“Heck, I don't know. Look for it!”
And then she resumed her conversation with her friend, with I am sure nary a thought for my well-being. Now, if it had been one of her kids, she would have run me over to get to his or her hangnail. But me- I almost slice off a finger, and she would rather talk with her friend than take care of her dear husband!
Of course, she did have surgery last week on her foot. The doctor basically sliced her foot open, removed a bone, and inserted a piece of titanium. She tossed her crutches in a day, and now is back to work without even a limp. And, no complaints. Well, she did complain when I wanted to stop for a hamburger on the way home from the surgery.
I'll be alright. I'm going to have to end this piece, because my thumb is really hurting. Hopefully I'll not awaken in the night with her squeezing my injured digit with pliars, saying, “Stop whining, you wimp.”
Why are women so tough?
07.21.06 (11:46 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
mommyoftwinangels (
reply)
post date:
07.21.06 (7:09 pm)
I am so sorry. I know all about reaching out to a loved one and getting "smacked in the face". I'll listen to your "whining" if you'll listen to mine :)
Jennifer
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.21.06 (7:18 pm)
Reply to: mommyoftwinangels
It's all just tongue-in-cheek. I've got a good wife; she's just, sometimes, not good at babying me. Boo Hoo!
posted by:
mercuryrising (
reply)
post date:
07.21.06 (7:19 pm)
lol PD, sorry you hurt yourself. You should have listened to your wife and should have been more careful! hehe :P
I have to admit that it irritates the living heck right out of me when I tell my husband something and he of course, ignores me. Then, when it comes full circle I have to give him that 'I told you so". Why cant you men ever listen? You know we are always right...and you wonder ... :P
posted by:
babe4jesus55 (
reply)
post date:
07.21.06 (8:37 pm)
A friend of mine had a similiar bloody accident about a week ago. She was down for the weekend visiting and when I went to pick her up, her thumb randomly started gushing blood. The sidewalk looked like someone had murdered a small animal and I would have been the accused because she dripped on the outside and inside of my car door.
After washing the wound, we discovered a tiny cut a few millimeters long. Sheesh. All that blood for a teeny tiny cut.
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
07.22.06 (4:30 am)
life is so unpredictable isn't it? oh wait. your wife DID predict that.
alas. i too have those moments, and yet i am female.
so, we are all joined in humanity, yet again.
dawn
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
07.22.06 (5:30 am)
Did she tell you to wash and sterilize the knife before putting it away?
posted by:
inkspector (
reply)
post date:
07.22.06 (5:35 am)
The Doctor's Rule -- if it needs one stitch, then no stitch is necessary.
Hope that makes you feel better and saves you a bundle.
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
07.22.06 (9:17 am)
Haha..too funny! I'm glad your injury was only minor though. Next time listen to your wife. heh
posted by:
cyrix (
reply)
post date:
07.22.06 (10:57 am)
aww.. even if t'was predictable, she should've shown any concern. but then again, you should've listened to your wife. lol
posted by:
Sillygrrl3 (
reply)
post date:
07.22.06 (11:03 am)
Great story!!! I am sorry about your finger!!! HOpe your pride heals as well as your skin! *Grin* Kara
posted by:
ottomanprang (
reply)
post date:
07.22.06 (7:05 pm)
Men. Who needs 'em. ;)
posted by:
azuretiger (
reply)
post date:
07.23.06 (6:16 pm)
Dave, sorry about your cut thumb, sorry about your wife saying "I told you so," and sorry most of all about all the comments telling you that you should have listened to your wife!
I, too, have learned the hard way not to use a knife -- serrated or otherwise -- for anything other than it's intended purpose. *sigh*
posted by:
seochris (
reply)
post date:
07.23.06 (6:31 pm)
That was really bad for you. Next time you would be more careful in using kitchen knives. Anyways how is your digit now? R u able to blog?
posted by:
smallwonder (
reply)
post date:
07.23.06 (9:31 pm)
oh my when i read that you cut yourself i cringed a bit. i hope your thumb is ok and don't worry because i know just how you feel! i am the oldest of three and for some reason my mom feels i have no real sence of pain, and ignores anything that has happend to me. cuts, bumps, illness', etc. she tells me to shake it off, or to get over it. ^_^ but to the other silings, she runs to their aid...
posted by:
kaikai (
reply)
post date:
07.24.06 (5:25 am)
Hope the knife wasn't badly damaged (or part of a set)...
Did you manage to fit the stereo? The only thing worse than injuring yourself doing DIY is to have to call someone else in to finish up for you.
Nice post!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.26.06 (4:57 pm)
Reply to: mercuryrising
Yeah, with every fibre of my being I hate to admit that my wife is right about such a matter. She wins in the common sense category.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.26.06 (4:59 pm)
Reply to: babe4jesus55
I've been watching CSI Miami. Should you ever be a suspect in a murder case, they have a way of detecting the blood on your car door. You'd probably be found guilty and locked up for twenty years. But it would not be all bad- it would be a great place for a ministry.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.26.06 (5:00 pm)
Reply to: fractalmom
So, you have a mate who gives advice instead of hugs? You have my empathy. Here's a hug, right through the monitor.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.26.06 (5:01 pm)
Reply to: surrogate
I think she instructed me to throw it away. But, it's now in my toolbox, ready for the next project.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.26.06 (5:03 pm)
Reply to: inkspector
Gee, thanks. Actually I am just about healed by now. Today I was having trouble finding the antibiotic ointment, so I used Blistex instead. Not a good idea. And yet another opportunity for the wife to shake her head and say, "Men!"
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.26.06 (5:04 pm)
Reply to: bawdy
Next time listen to my wife? You must be female...I'll check your profile.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.26.06 (5:05 pm)
Reply to: ottomanprang
Well, for most things, men are just fine. Most things.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.26.06 (5:06 pm)
Reply to: LadyG
I've got some plumbing stories, too. But I'll spare the gory details. And it did cost us some money.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.26.06 (5:07 pm)
Reply to: thoolou
Thank you, very much, for the much needed sympathy. See- that's what is needed. Not "I told you so". Send me a t-mail next time you do anything self injurous, and I'll supply whatever sympathy may be necessary. It will help.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.26.06 (5:08 pm)
Reply to: seochris
Blogging is no problem. However, shaking hands- which is pretty well mandatory for me about 100 times per day- is difficult. I may take up bowing, like the Koreans prefer.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.26.06 (5:10 pm)
Reply to: smallwonder
It's tough being the oldest. Truly, all the little ones get the sympathy. I'm the "oldest" around here, with 3 daughters and a new grandaughter. There's just not enough sympathy to go around.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.26.06 (5:12 pm)
Reply to: kaikai
The stereo is in, and working fine. However, it is not secured into the dash. A good slam of the brakes, and it may go flying. I cannot figure how to get it to stay. So, I've bought double-side tape, and think I can tape it into the dash rather sturdily. We will see.
posted by:
babe4jesus55 (
reply)
post date:
07.26.06 (8:32 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
My grandparents do jail ministry. (From the outside, not the inside.) Great ministry, I agree, but I'd rather not be inside the bars doning those ugly orange jump suits. *shudders* Couldn't they have made them a more flattering color? Even yellow would be better than orange. Ick.
